Haunted
Lynn Carthage
Haunted
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lynn Carthage
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
I found out a secret no one told me: our new home is not just old and creepy, it’s alive with shadows that want to hurt my little sister. Strange stories swirl about Madame Arnaud and children who vanished long ago, but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Haunted follows a young girl who moves with her family to her stepfather's old English manor, where she encounters eerie happenings and unsettling family dynamics. Geared toward middle-grade readers, this suspenseful story touches on themes of family, belonging, and courage, with mild supernatural elements appropriate for ages 9-12.
Why we rated Haunted 11LE
Haunted is written at a Level 6 reading level across 275 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Haunted works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Haunted as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Haunted explores family, sisters, juvenile fiction, supernatural, and courage — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, sisters, juvenile fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781617736261
- Pages
- 275
- Publisher
- Kensington Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction